They paid a good portion Jagr's salary (retained), that's what I meant.I didn't think they could move more than $5m at a time. I think that's why the PIT/WSH deal was listed as 4,999,999.99, because they weren't allowed to go over that $5m limit.I get that, but their neck is on the line. A trade with Philly might be in the best interest of the team, but if it doesn't pan out, I might not see another GM offer ever.
I think that you are putting far too much value in the division thing. A trade with Philadelphia failing or succeeding has the same value as a trade with Vancouver failing or succeeding.
The Pens traded Recchi to the Flyers
Robitaille and Ulf to the Rangers
Nedved to the Rangers
Kovalev to the Rangers (for garbage)
Jagr to the Caps (for prospects that ended up being garbage)
The Caps then traded Jagr to the Rangers (and $18M for a broken Carter)
"Under the terms of this deal, the Capitals will pay $20 million of the $44 million remaining on Jagr's seven-year, $77-million contact. The Rangers will pay the rest." So I under shot with the $18, it was $20M.